Published: February 2nd 2015
Genre: Adult, Paranormal, Post-Apocalyptic
Pages: 217 (from Amazon)
Format: Ebook
Source: Purchased
When flying monsters break through the veil into her world, Mackenzie Scott has nothing left to lose. Her brother has been marked, her future has vanished, and all that remains is a desperate need for revenge. After discovering the breach the creatures used as a gateway, Mackenzie devises a plan to stop them, whatever the cost.
When she finds an injured stranger in the street, he just might be the key she needs to succeed. What Mackenzie doesn't know is that this stranger isn't the helpless boy he appears to be. He's one of the monsters. And he's got plans of his own.
Thrown into a dying city in another realm, Mackenzie is powerless to get back. With the gateway closing, time is not on her side. But the stranger is, and if they can escape execution, this girl and her monster might be able to save both their worlds.
I've made no secret of the fact that I adored the Descendants series, so when I saw Melissa Wright had just released a new book I didn't hesitate in grabbing it and reading ASAP. I love the way she writes, and especially how she writes action and romance.
I'll start by saying I didn't love this as much as the Descendants series, but that was purely a personal thing. I didn't fall as hard for the characters, and I'm a character driven reader. Now that's said, let's talk about all the things I did love:
Mackenzie, the MC of this series, is another determined, take-no-crap female and she's awesome. She'll go to any length for her brother and I really liked that about her. I also liked how when she found herself in another (mirror?) world, she freaked out. A lot. She went quiet and withdrawn, and eventually she pulled herself out of it and got shit done. I love my badass ladies who aren't afraid to show emotions or break down. Hunter, too, I loved, but I never loved him. I admired him, sure, and liked a lot about him, but he didn't have a spark for me. Still, I enjoyed reading about him, and especially learning about his world and his place in the realm of monsters.
I liked a bunch of other things about this - how we're thrown into the action from the start, the wreckage Earth has become, the introduction to a creepy ruling force in the other world, the perfect mix of post-apocalyptic and fantasy, and the prospect of a human girl becoming queen of a dying world of inhumans. I did miss a lot of world-building, though, and didn't quite understand or visualise the dying lands as well as I'd have liked, and crossing through the gateway confused me at times; I couldn't understand what was happening. But I overlooked these things for the great plot and writing.
King of Ash and Bone is a unique blend of portal fantasy and post-apocalyptic Earth. Instantly compelling. I have a hunch I'll like book two much more than this, and I can't wait to read it!
I'll start by saying I didn't love this as much as the Descendants series, but that was purely a personal thing. I didn't fall as hard for the characters, and I'm a character driven reader. Now that's said, let's talk about all the things I did love:
Mackenzie, the MC of this series, is another determined, take-no-crap female and she's awesome. She'll go to any length for her brother and I really liked that about her. I also liked how when she found herself in another (mirror?) world, she freaked out. A lot. She went quiet and withdrawn, and eventually she pulled herself out of it and got shit done. I love my badass ladies who aren't afraid to show emotions or break down. Hunter, too, I loved, but I never loved him. I admired him, sure, and liked a lot about him, but he didn't have a spark for me. Still, I enjoyed reading about him, and especially learning about his world and his place in the realm of monsters.
I liked a bunch of other things about this - how we're thrown into the action from the start, the wreckage Earth has become, the introduction to a creepy ruling force in the other world, the perfect mix of post-apocalyptic and fantasy, and the prospect of a human girl becoming queen of a dying world of inhumans. I did miss a lot of world-building, though, and didn't quite understand or visualise the dying lands as well as I'd have liked, and crossing through the gateway confused me at times; I couldn't understand what was happening. But I overlooked these things for the great plot and writing.
King of Ash and Bone is a unique blend of portal fantasy and post-apocalyptic Earth. Instantly compelling. I have a hunch I'll like book two much more than this, and I can't wait to read it!
Characters ★★★☆☆
Setting/world building ★★★☆☆
Writing ★★★★☆
